German care commission starts work; Linnemann wants reform proposals by end of January
Thirteen experts chaired by former Caritas secretary general Georg Cremer are to overhaul long-term care insurance. The structural reform is due to take effect on July 1, 2027.
Archive image · Photo: Dr. Frank Gaeth / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
The German government's commission on the structure of long-term care began work on Tuesday. The panel of 13 experts, including economists, lawyers, care researchers and practitioners, is to analyze spending by the statutory long-term care insurance and draw up proposals for sustainable financing, better care and more prevention and rehabilitation. Unlike the pensions commission, it includes no politicians. It is chaired by former Caritas secretary general Georg Cremer, according to the trade portal Altenpflege.
Health Minister Carsten Linnemann of the Christian Democrats said: "The goal is to present results by the end of January." Based on them, a structural reform is to take effect on July 1, 2027, the ministry said. Linnemann also pointed to municipalities, which step in when care benefits and personal assets do not cover costs such as a nursing home place: "The municipalities barely have room to breathe."
The conservatives and the Social Democrats argued for months over care reform, and deeper changes were postponed to 2027. The main dispute is over a cap on nursing home costs, which the SPD is demanding. Both camps are represented on the panel: Cremer opposes a general cap because high earners would also benefit, while Bremen health economist Heinz Rothgang supports one. The government hopes for a unanimous outcome, ZDFheute reported.